Continuous yarn windup mechanism



March 21, 1967 M. B. EMERY CONTINUOUS YARN WINDUP MECHANISM 5Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 26, 1964 March 21, 1967 M. B. EMERY CONTINUOUSYARN WINDUP MECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 26, 1964 March 5 M. B.EMERY 3,310,247

CONTINUOUS YARN WINDUP MECHANISM Filed Oct. 26, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 o3 g g & \wswmmm- JJJUJUJU March 21, 1967 M. B. EMERY CONTINUOUS YARNWINDUP MECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Oct. 26, 1964 March 21, 1967 M.[3. EMERY 3,310,247

CONTINUOUS YARN WINDUP MECHANISM Filed Oct. 26, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 5United States Patent M 3,310,247 CONTINUOUS YARN WINDUP MECHANISMMichael Bin-gin Emery, Seaford, Del., assignor to E. 1. du Pont deNemours and Company, Wilmington, Del, a corporation of Delaware FiledOct. 26, 1964, Ser. No. 406,522 6 Claims. Cl. 242-18) This inventionrelates generally to the packaging of synthetic yarns and, moreparticularly, to the equipment with which yarn advancing continuouslyfrom a source is wound on successive packages.

Windups which include a print or drive roll to which yarn advances froma reciprocating traverse guide and from which the yarn is deposited on asurface driven package are in wide use. To avoid waste during a doflingcycle, such windups have been modified by the provision of two rotatablepackage supports alternately movable into surface driven engagement withthe drive roll and of auxiliary equipment for accomplishing transfer ofthe yarn from a full package to a driven empty support.

The present invention is directed to such a windup and has as itsprincipal objective the provision of further improvements andmodifications with which the transfer of yarn to an empty packagesupport is not only accomplished automatically but also in a moreuniform and reliable fashion. It is a particular objective of theinvention to provide for positive control of the yarn during a transfercycle. A corollary object is to provide for the direct transfer of yarnfrom a full package to an empty support with a minimum of waste.

These and other objects are achieved in a windup which includes a driveroll, a pair of rotatable chucks alternately movable into surfaceengagement with the drive roll, a reciprocating traverse guide throughwhich yarn normally advances over the drive roll to a package support onthe driven chuck and an automatic mechanism for transferring the yarnfrom a full package to an empty package support. The transfer mechanismincludes an elongated deflector bar which has a guide at one end andwhich is pivotally mounted at its other end for swinging movement to aposition adjacent an empty support on the driven chuck. When inposition, the bar is slidable to a location of alignment with severingelements on the driven chuck. After the yarn has been deflected andsevered, a transfer tail is wound and a new package is initiated on theempty support.

In the accompanying drawings,

FIGURE 1 is a side view of a windup into which the transfer mechanism ofthe present invention has been incorporated;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary front view of the windup;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the transfer mechanism shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on line IVIV in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on irregular line VV inFIG. 3;

FIGS. 6 and 7 are top and front views, respectively, of the transfermechanism; and

FIG. 8 is a schematic illustration of the windup.

Referring to FIG. 1, it will be seen that the windup chosen for purposesof illustration includes generally, as components thereof, an equipmentframe 10, a pair of articulated swing arms 12, 14 mounted for relativerotation about a common pivot 16, rotatable chucks 18, 20 on stub shaftsat the extremities of arms 12, 14, a drive roll 22, a reciprocatingtraverse guide 24 through which yarn 26 advances over drive roll 22 to apackage 28 on chuck 20, and a transfer mechanism 3t).

3,318,247 Patented Mar. 21, 1967 At the timed completion of package 28,a piston and cylinder assembly 32 and coupled linkages are actuated torelease a pawl 34 and to prepare the illustrated cams for descent of arm14 to a point where the stub shaft rests on a cradle 36. Simultaneously,a piston and cylinder assembly 38 is actuated to withdraw a brake shoe40, against the bias of a spring (not shown) so that chuck 20 willcontinue to rotate and take up yarn when it reaches the position shownin phantom at 20. A piston and cylinder assembly 41 is actuated to pivota latch 42 clockwise, thereby releasing arm 12 from its ready positionto one in which an empty support tube 44 on chuck 18 is in surfacedriven engagement with drive roll 22.

As described more fully hereinafter, the descent of package 28 trips aswitch 46 to initiate pivotal movement of mechanism 30 to a levelposition (FIG. 3) beneath drive roll 22 and the then driven but emptypackage support on chuck 18. When yarn 26 has been transferred to and iswinding on that support, mechanism 30 is returned to the position shownin FIG. 1 and brake shoe 38 rises into engagement with chuck 20'. Thisleaves package 28 ready for doffing, which is accomplished after arm 14has been swung manually to a position where it is held in a notch 48 onlatch 42. After replacement of the full package with an empty tube 44,arm 14 is unlatched at 48 and swung further to the ready position, i.e.,to the position shown for arm 12 in FIG. 1. In the meantime, a packageis being built on chuck 18.

In FIG. 2, the stub shaft on which chuck 20 is rotatably mounted hasbeen shown at 50. It is the illustrated length of shaft 50 which engagescradle 36 when the chuck is at position 20'. Chuck 20 has a groove 52cut in its surface adjacent the location of support tube 44. v Chuck 18is similarly equipped. Within each groove 52, there are several V-shapedsnaring elements 54 and angularly disposed severing elements 55 whichfunction to snare and sever yarn 26 at the initiation of a package. Atransfer tail of one or more helical wraps is wound as yarn 26 istraversed to the package area on tube 44.

Yarn transfer mechanism 30 has been shown in detail in FIGS. 3-7 andschematically in FIG. 8. Referring to FIG. 3, mechanism 30 has a frame56 fixedly attached to a tubular housing 58 which is rotatably mountedon equipment frame 10. On frame 56, there is a slidably mounted yarndeflector bar 60. Intermediate its ends, bar 60 carries a holder 62.Attached to housing 58, as shown at 59, there is a piston and cylinderassembly 64 which functions to swing frame 56 and bar 60 from theposition shown in FIG. 1 to the operable position of FIG. 3 when airunder pressure is supplied through con duit 66. The cylinder of assembly64 has its lower end vented to the atmosphere, 'as shown at 65 in FIG.8. When the piston therein has passed fitting 68, air from conduit 66 isdelivered to housing 58 through a conduit 70, as described more fully inconnection with FIGS. 5-8.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, holder 62 has a pair of spaced upright plates72 between which a latch 74 having a tooth 76 is pivotally mounted at78. Latch 74 is biased to the position shown in FIG. 4, with tooth 76projecting beyond edges 86 on plates 72, by a permanent magnet 82.

Within tubular housing 58, there is a ball bearing 84 (FIG. 5) whichsupports the swingable parts of transfer mechanism 30 rotatably on ashort shaft projecting from equipment frame 10. A pair of plugs 86, 88are secured to the housing interior adjacent its respective ends andhave a concentric tube 90 extending therebetween. Beyond the ends oftube 91), there are cavities in which pulleys 92, 94 are rotatablymounted and so positioned a that the enclosed reach of an endless cable96 is coaxial with tube 90. Attached to that reach of cable 96, there isa piston 98 which is driven back and forth in tube 90 by the admissionof air through either of conduits 76, 1%. On its exterior, tube 90carries a sleeve 1%2 which is secured to the outer reach of cable 96 andto which is secured the deflector bar 66.

Frame 56 includes a pair of arms 104, 106 and a pair of rods 1418, 110(FIG. 6). Arms 104, 1% are fixed to and extend radially from housing 58as cantilevers. Their outer ends curve upwardly so as to extend a shortdistance around the empty driven chuck (FIG. 3) and are interconnectedby smooth rod 110. Arm 1114 also carries a small fixed triangular plate112, the right-hand edge of which cooperates with rod 110 as a yarnguide during the transfer cycle.

Rod 163 also interconnects arms 1&4, 1%. As best shown in FIG. 3, itreceives a bearing lock 114 which is secured to :bar 69 outwardly fromthe point at which the bar extends through a slot 116 in housing ss(FIG. 7) to its point of attachment with sleeve 102 (FIG. 6). At itsouter end, deflector bar on is formed to present a guide hook 118 whichis in alignment with the edges 80 on plates 72 of holder 62 and with theroove 52 (FIG. 2) on the driven chuck when in the transfer position ofFIGS. 6 and 7.

The condition of various related control components while a package isbeing wound on chuck 20 has been shown schematically in FIG. 8.Completion of the package is determined by a timer 12%? which. closes aswitch 122 to connect solenoids 124, 126 and 12% to power source 121.With the energization of solenoid 124, a coupled valve plug 139 isrotated to admit air under pressure to assemblies 38, 41, therebywithdrawing brake shoe 40 and releasing arm 12 from its ready position.Energization of solenoid 123a pulls the spring biased actuator oncoupled valve plug 132 to the left, thereby delivering air throughconduit 14W to insure the initial location of deflector bar 64) adjacentthe right end of slot 116 (FIG. 7). Energization of solenoid 126 rotatesa coupled valve plug 134 to its second position in which the lower endof cylinder 32 is exhausted to atmosphere. Resulting movement of theassociated linkages causes clockwise rotation of pawl 34, permittingdescent of arm 14. In its movement, pawl 34 also reverses the positionof switch 136, thereby de-energizing solenoid 126 and energizing asolenoid 133. De-energization of solenoid 125 permits the clockwisereturn of valve plug 134. With both ends of cylinder 32 againpressurized, the piston therein returns relatively slowly to its initialposition. Responsive to the action of a spring, pawl 34 also returns toits initial position where it can block descent of arm 12. In themeantime, momentary energization of solenoid 138 has opened switch 149which then closes against the action of an attached dashpot, therebyinsuring that solenoid 126 will not be energized a second time duringthe dofiing cycle.

As indicated previously, the descent of a full package trips and closesswitch 46, closing the circuit to a solenoid 142 which reverses theposition of a switch 144. The latter action energizes solenoid 12% whichpulls in the actuator on valve plug 132 to pressurize assembly 64through conduit 66, thereby swinging frame 56 to the operable positionshown in FIG. 3. As the piston in assembly 64 passes the fitting 68 forconduit 70, air under pressure drives piston 98 from left to right intube 90 (FIG. thereby sliding deflector bar 60 from right to left (FIGS.6 and 7).

At the time bar 6t is driven from right to left, yarn 26 is advancingthrough traverse guide 24, in contact with drive roll 22 and an emptysupport tube 44 on the driven chuck, over guide rod 11% (FIG. 3) to thefull package which still has enough rotational inertia to take up theyarn. As bar 60 moves to the left, the yarn is engaged and travelsoutwardly into guide hook 118 which, with edges 80 on plates 72 (FIG.4), holds the yarn in align- 4 ment with the groove 52 (FIG. 2) ondriven chuck 18. From hook 118, the yarn advances around the guide edgeof plate 112 which is aligned with a point in the length of package 28.Except for guide plate 112, the yarn would be deflected from package 28to the rotating chuck and would not then be advanced at a ratesuflicient to insure effective snaring and severing. When snared,severed and advancing to the driven chuck, the yarn passes under tooth76 on latch 74 until there is suflicient tension to pivot the latchagainst the bias of magnet 82. Then yarn 2-6 rides free of edges 89 onholder 62 and moves laterally in a transfer tail of one or more helicalwraps to a package area defined by the stroke of traverse guide 24.Thus, yarn 26 is under positive control during the automatic transferfrom package 28 to an empty package support 44.

A dashpot attached to the arm of switch 144 prevents its return to theposition shown in FIG. 8 until the yarn has been transferred and isadvancing directly to a support tube 44 on the driven chuck. Thensolenoid 128a is reenergized to direct air once again to tube 90 throughconduit 1%. In this manner, deflector bar 60 is returned to its readyposition, i.e., to the right end of slot 116 (PEG. 7). Simultaneously,the cylinder of assembly 64 is vented to the atmosphere through conduit66, permitting frame 56 of transfer mechanism 30 to swinggravitationally back to the position shown in FIG. 1.

When dofiing timer 120 opens switch 122, solenoid 124 is tie-energized,valve plug 130 returns to the exhaust position and latch 42 returns tothe ready position. Similarly, assembly 33 is exhausted, permittingbrake shoe 40 to rise and engage chuck 2&1. Solenoid 128a isde-energized, permitting the actuator on valve plug 132 to return to itscenter position in which conduits 66, are exhausted. Subsequently,switch 149 closes, but without effect, since switch 122 is open. In anactual embodiment, all of the functional events described in connectionwith transfer mechanism 341 and its operation occur within a period ofless than four seconds, i.e., timer holds switch 122 closed for lessthan four seconds. Thus, yarn is not only transferred reliably anduniformly but also with what is believed to be a minimum of waste.

It is apparent that many changes and modifications of the disclosedwindup may be made without departing from the spirit of the presentinvention which is accordingly intended to be limited only by the scopeof the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a yarn windup including a drive roll, a pair of rotatable chucksalternately movable into surface driven engagement with the drive rolland a traverse guide through which yarn normally advances over the-driveroll to a package support on the driven chuck, a yarn transfer mechanismcomprising: an elongated deflector bar provided with a guide adjacentone of its ends; means mounting the bar for swinging movement of saidone end to a position adjacent said driven chuck and for slidingmovement longitudinally thereof to a location beyond an empty supportthereon, each chuck having yarn-snaring and -severing elements at saidlocation; and separate motive means coupled to said bar for sequentiallyswinging it to said position and sliding it to said location while yarnis still advancing to a full package on the other chuck whereby todeflect, snare and sever said yarn, thereby initiating a new package onsaid empty support.

2. The windup of claim 1 wherein is provided a yarnholding memberaflixed to said bar intermediate the ends thereof, said member having aguide edge substantially in alignment with said deflector guide and,when the bar is in said location, with said elements, said edgeterminating in the space between said drive roll and the driven chuckwhereby to block normal traverse motion of the yarn until it has beensevered and is advancing to the driven chuck.

3. The windup of claim 2 wherein is provided a pivotally mounted latchhaving a tooth normally projecting beyond said edge, said tooth beingadapted for engagement by and movement out of the path of said yarn whenthe latter has been severed and is advancing to the driven chuck.

4. The windup of claim 3 wherein is provided means biasing said latchtoward the normal position in which the tooth projects beyond said edgeand against pivotal movement responsive to yarn tension.

5. In a yarn windup including a drive roll, a pair of rotatable chucksalternately movable into surface driven engagement with the drive rolland a traverse guide through which yarn normally advances over the driveroll to a package support on the driven chuck, a yarn transfer mechanismcomprising: a frame; means mounting the frame for pivotal movement toand from a position adjacent the drive roll and an empty support on saiddriven chuck while yarn is still advancing to a full package on theother chuck, said frame including an elongated guide rod in spacedparallelism with said driven chuck, said rod being adapted forengagement by the yarn as it advances to said full package, each chuckhaving yarnsnaring and -severing elements adjacent the support thereon;an elongated deflector bar provided with a guide adjacent one of itsends; means mounting the bar on said frame, transversely of said guiderod, for sliding movement to and from a location in which the deflectorguide is aligned with said elements; and motive means coupled to saidbar for sliding it toward said location whereby to deflect, snare andsever said yarn, thereby initiating a new package on said empty support.

6. A mechanism for transferring continuously advancing yarn to an emptypackage support on a driven chuck provided with yarn-snaring and-severing elements adjacent the support, said mechanism comprising: anelongated deflector bar provided with a guide adjacent one of its ends;means mounting the bar for swinging movement of said one end to aposition adjacent said support and for sliding movement longitudinallyof the chuck to a location in which the deflector guide is aligned withsaid elements; and separate motive means coupled to said bar forsequentially swinging it to said position and sliding it to saidlocation whereby to deflect, snare and sever said yarn, therebyinitiating a new package on said empty support.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,296,339 9/1942Daniels 242-18 2,789,774 4/1957 Petersen et al. 242-18 2,957,635 10/1960Bisbe 242l8 3,076,614 2/1963 Baer 24218 3,149,795 9/1964 Rhein 24218FOREIGN PATENTS 761,689 11/1956 Great Britain.

STANLEY N. GILREATH, Primary Examiner.

1. IN A YARN WINDUP INCLUDING A DRIVE ROLL, A PAIR OF ROTATABLE CHUCKSALTERNATELY MOVABLE INTO SURFACE DRIVEN ENGAGEMENT WITH THE DRIVE ROLLAND A TRANSVERSE GUIDE THROUGH WHICH YARN NORMALLY ADVANCES OVER THEDRIVE ROLL TO A PACKAGE SUPPORT ON THE DRIVEN CHUCK, A YARN TRANSFERMECHANISM COMPRISING: AN ELONGATED DEFLECTOR BAR PROVIDED WITH A GUIDEADJACENT ONE OF ITS ENDS; MEANS MOUNTING THE BAR FOR SWINGING MOVEMENTOF SAID ONE END TO A POSITION ADJACENT SAID DRIVEN CHUCK AND FOR SLIDINGMOVEMENT LONGITUDINALLY THEREOF TO A LOCATION BEYOND AN EMPTY SUPPORTTHEREON, EACH CHUCK HAVING YARN-SNARING AND -SEVERING ELEMENTS AT SAIDLOCATION; AND SEPARATE MOTIVE MEANS COUPLED TO SAID BAR FOR SEQUENTIALLYSWINGING IT TO SAID POSITION AND SLIDING IT TO SAID LOCATION WHILE YARNIS STILL ADVANCING TO A FULL PACKAGE ON THE OTHER CHUCK WHEREBY TODEFLECT, SNARE AND SEVER SAID YARN, THEREBY INITIATING A NEW PACKAGE ONSAID EMPTY SUPPORT.